On January 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. This is one of the most important Christian holidays, in importance it ranks second after happy holiday Easter.

Its name speaks for itself - Christmas means the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to our world to save human souls.

According to Christian beliefs, Jesus was sent by God to earth to atone for sins and save humanity. The day of his birth divided history into “before” and “after”: from that moment the modern calendar began - “our era”.

Gospel story of the birth of Jesus Christ^

In the small town of Bethlehem, not far from Jerusalem, the Virgin Mary was born into a family of pious parents. From the age of three she was raised in the temple. After leaving the temple at the age of 14, she promised never to marry and to serve only God. The priests entrusted her to an 80-year-old man, widower Joseph from Nazareth, who had adult children, and Mary took the place of her father.

Soon the Archangel Gabriel appeared at Joseph’s house, where Mary lived, and told her: “You will give birth to a son and call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him a throne...”

The country of Judea was then ruled by King Herod, subject to Rome. By decree of the Roman Emperor Augustus, a population census began in Judea, and everyone had to take the census where his ancestors lived. Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to their parents' homeland, Bethlehem.

Because of large cluster people who arrived in the town, they were forced to take refuge outside the city, in a cave where shepherds kept their cattle in inclement weather. At night, the Virgin Mary gave birth to a baby - the Son of God. Mary swaddled him and put him in a manger where they put feed for livestock.

The Bethlehem shepherds were the first to know about the birth of the Savior of the world. In the field where they were grazing their flocks, an angel appeared in a bright light. He told the frightened shepherds: “Do not be afraid! I bring you great joy: today a Savior has been born, who is Christ. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

The shepherds found a cave and bowed to the baby lying in the manger, and then, joyful, returned to their flocks. On the eighth day after the baby was born, Joseph and Mary gave him the name Jesus, which means “God saves,” or “Savior.”

How to celebrate Christmas ^

Everyone looks forward to the eve of the Nativity of Christ all year long, called Christmas Eve, which ends with the holy night (December 24/January 6). According to tradition, it is on Christmas Eve after the first star in the sky (in memory of the wonderful Star of Bethlehem, which announced to the whole world about the birth of the “divine child”) that the strict Nativity fast ends, which begins on November 28 and ends on January 7.

Since the last day before fasting falls on the day of remembrance of the Holy Apostle Philip, the fast itself is usually called Filippovka (Pilipovka). The Nativity Fast was established so that by Christmas people would be physically and spiritually cleansed by repentance, prayers and abstinence from food, passions, vices, insults, evil and other sins.

In general, the holidays of the Christmas cycle begin on January 2, Ignat Day. The girls clean the house carefully. By January 4, Anastasia's Day, the house should be festively decorated. It is on this day that everything is prepared for preparing the future festive dinner. Often they stabbed a pig on Anastasia, that is, they carried out a “fresh” test. And, in the end, the culmination of the holiday is Christmas Eve or, in other words, Rich Kutya (January 6).

On the eve of the Nativity of Christ on January 6, it is customary to sit down to a generous but Lenten table. One of the main traditions of celebrating Christmas is the Holy Evening. After putting the house in order, twelve holiday dishes in honor of the twelve apostles.

Our ancestors prepared borscht, fish, cabbage, dumplings and pies with apples (cabbage), as well as other Lenten dishes on Christmas Eve. According to tradition, only when January 7th comes can meat be put on the table. This is how they were served on the table homemade sausage, boiled pork, ham, stuffed goose, duck or pig, jelly, gingerbread, etc.

• It is not customary to have breakfast and lunch on January 6; a light snack is only allowed for children.
• It is necessary to sit down at the Christmas table with the appearance of the first star. The Holy Evening begins with prayer and the lighting of the Christmas candle. In the company of the whole family, including babies, the owner of the house blesses the dinner.
• According to tradition, every family member should be at home that evening, and you cannot be late for the festive table, since it is believed that you will be wandering all year.
• During dinner, you must not leave the table or talk loudly.
• The festive table should amaze with its diversity, but we must not forget that Lent is still ongoing, so those who like a glass will have to wait a little.
• None of the dishes should be left untouched.
• You can't clear the table until Christmas Day on January 7th.

• The main dish on the table this evening is, of course, kutia. Throughout all holidays, right up to Epiphany, kutia should be in the most honorable place in the house.
• After dinner was over, the children took lunch to their godparents, while the adults prepared for the evening church service.
• Only the girls, who always want to know about their fate, had no peace. The evening gradually ends and a magical Christmas night begins, during which you cannot sleep, as you can “sleep through” all the happiness.
• On the morning of January 7, people joyfully greet with the phrase “Christ is born!”, and in response they hear - “We praise him!”

What not to do at Christmas

• On pain of all sorts of troubles, nothing could be bent, weaved or sewed on Christmas Day.
• Legs dining table They tied each other with a rope so that the cattle would not run away from the herd.
• The remains of the evening meal were taken outside the fence - “so that the wolves would not harm the peasant cattle.”
• A popular proverb says: Whoever slaughters cattle on Christmas Day will die in three years.
• You cannot lend anything related to fire on Christmas Eve, for example, a flint, matches, a lighter, a bucket of coal or firewood, etc., otherwise misfortune will befall you.
• Never sew, wash your hair, do laundry or lend money on three-day holy holidays (Christmas, Easter and Trinity), otherwise you will set yourself up for tears and poverty.
• On Christmas Eve, do not borrow bread, salt or money from home, otherwise all the goods will pass through your hands.

• They do not cut hair or spin wool.
• Do not wash or boil laundry.
• Believers must finish all the dirty work by this day in Maundy Thursday, and whoever “pulls” dirt on Christmas Eve will sit in it for the whole year.
• You cannot sit at the Christmas table in mourning, that is, in black clothes - you will invite disaster.
• If on this bright day a dog howls in your yard, then there will be trouble. To get rid of it, you need to immediately go up to the dog, untie it and say: “Just as the rope doesn’t hold you, so the trouble wouldn’t hold on to my house!”
• Do not buy ropes on January 8, the second day of Christmas, so that there will never be someone hanged or strangled in your family.
• Do not cook or eat jelly on this day, so as not to invite the deceased into your house.
• On the ninth of January, the third day of Christmas, do not cut wood before sunset.

What to do for Christmas

According to folk beliefs To ensure that your loved ones are happy and healthy throughout the year, on the Nativity of Christ on January 7, ask the eldest member of the family to treat all relatives with milk. When bringing milk to someone, he must say every time: “The Lord was born, the people were baptized. May you be cheerful and healthy. Amen".

On Christmas Eve old times they took out and left food for people in need or distributed treats - it was believed that in this way all the deceased ancestors, who did not have time to eat before their death, satisfied their hunger.

• I'm going after festive feast did not clear the table so that souls of the dead your relatives have eaten holiday food, and for this they will pray for you.
• In a family where there is no peace and harmony, on Christmas night they put a bucket out in the cold, and in the morning they put it on the fire and say: “The ice will melt, the water will boil, and [so-and-so]’s soul will ache for me.” This water is given to the husband to wash his face or in the form of tea/soup, and they also wash the husband’s underwear in it. Holy Christmas water always helps a woman's troubles.
• Ask God for what you really need at Christmas. Ask seventy-seven times and it will be given to you. Whoever asks God for something at three o'clock in the morning on Christmas Day will be given it.
• If on Christmas night you look for a flying star in the sky and make a wish, then it will definitely come true.
• On January 7, in the cold, jump out into the street lightly and, as soon as goosebumps appear on your body, say: “As there are so many pimples on my skin, so that I have so much money too.”

Christmas traditions and signs ^

These days were considered special, since the fragile, unbaptized world was inhabited by spirits ready to tell people about the future, about their fate. Therefore, since ancient times, Christmastide has been accompanied by fortune-telling, following omens and magical rituals.

Caroling

From December 25th, for a whole week, children walked around with a star made of paper and a nativity scene. A star the size of an arshin was made of paper, painted and illuminated from the inside with a candle. A nativity scene is a two-tiered box in which wooden figures depicted scenes associated with the birth of Christ.

Arriving under the windows of the house, they sang first the troparion and kontakion for the holiday, and then the grapevine; Meanwhile, the star was constantly spinning in a circle - Having sung the grapes, the owner and hostess were congratulated on the holiday, and finally, they exclaimed to the glory of God, thereby asking for a donation. Then the owner allowed one of the famers to come into his house and gave him money.

Mummers

Mummers walked from house to house. Fortune telling and other entertainments were held. Everyone dressed up - young and old, men and women. They dressed up as a soldier, a peasant, a gypsy, a lady, a coachman, etc.

• Married and elderly women went to other villages as mummers, allowing themselves to do things that in normal times were considered reprehensible and even quite indecent.
• In order not to be recognized, they either painted their faces with soot, or glued on mustaches and beards made of tow, or put on homemade masks.
• Among the mummers there was always a bear with a guide.
• In the evenings, with accordion and balalaika, the mummers went to visit friends and relatives, sang, danced, and called their hosts names.

Carols

“Carols” were also called cookies that were baked in the form of figures of animals and birds - “cows”, “roes”, etc.

• The largest “carol” was taken to the barn and left there until Epiphany.
• At Epiphany, they crumbled it into holy water and fed it to the cattle so that it would not get sick, would bear fruit well, and would know a home.
• Komi-Permyaks kept bread “kozulka” in a shrine until Epiphany, and then also fed it to the animals that this or that “kozulka” represented.
• The rest of the “carols” were awarded to the mummers and carolers who came to the house for their songs.

Signs

There are a lot of Christmas signs:

• If it's Christmas good weather, snow - for a fruitful year; The day is warm - the bread will be dark and thick.
• If Christmas is in the new month, then the year will be lean.
• There will be a snowstorm at Christmas - the bees will swarm well.
• What is the weather like after Christmas, the same will be after Peter's Day (July 12).
• At Christmas, it was considered bad if a woman (from strangers) entered the house first - the women in that house would be ill all year.
• At Christmas they usually wear a nice, clean shirt, but not a new one, otherwise you won’t be expecting a harvest.
• It was considered great luck for the whole year if a sheep gave birth to a lamb on Christmas night. Sheep were generally revered in Christianity in memory of the birth of the baby Jesus, who was born in the shepherds' cave and was laid in a sheep manger.

When is Catholic Christmas celebrated?

The Orthodox celebrate the Nativity of Christ after the Catholics due to differences in the calendars: the old Julian and the new Gregorian. It is generally accepted that Gregorian calendar more accurately reflects the movement of the Earth around the Sun, therefore it is more consistent with the change of seasons and seasonal changes in temperature.

• Calendar reforms, like the calendars themselves, were initially perceived by people in a religious context. The discussion of the "new style" took place in 1563 in the reformation Western Church at the Council of Trent.
• The use of the new calendar was prescribed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, and it is with this man that the name of the calendar itself is associated - the Gregorian. Dad Gregory XIII made an offer to support his innovation to all Christian sovereigns.
• When correcting the date shift in 1582, 10 days were added at once, due to which the 4th of October immediately followed the 15th.

Society did not immediately accept the new calendar, since at first it perceived it as an incomprehensible papal idea. Only in XVIII century The Gregorian calendar was adopted by Protestant countries. The Orthodox adopted a new calendar at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, and to many such a transition to the “Catholic” chronology seemed practically an apostasy.

Today, the Gregorian calendar is perceived by us as an ordinary, generally accepted calendar. In our country, the new style was introduced by the Soviet government, but the Russian Orthodox Church, remaining in the old calendar, deliberately did not want to submit to the laws of a non-Christian state at that time.

Therefore, historically it happened that public holidays, such as February 23, March 8 or May 1, we celebrate according to the new calendar, and religious holidays, as well as fasting, are observed according to the old calendar.

Start: Divine service of the Nativity of Christ - a story by Nikolai Derzhavin, who has been commentating on television broadcasts of holiday services for 20 years.

Divine Liturgy

The Patriarch heads to the pulpit to begin the main and most important church service. The word Liturgy is translated from Greek as “the work of the whole people,” “common cause.”

The church chose this name for common prayer, because it best expresses the idea that this prayer is the work of the entire church people, overcoming distances, borders and times, and where every person can directly commune with God.

During the Liturgy, the sacrament of Communion is performed: bread and wine by the power and action of the Holy Spirit are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ and given to believers for communion, for the remission of sins and eternal life. During the Liturgy, a sacrifice of thanksgiving is offered to God, which is why it is also called, which translated from Greek means “thanksgiving.” Liturgy is the center of the life of any Christian, and the all-night vigil is called upon to prepare us spiritually for it.

The eldest of the clergy serving the Patriarch makes the sign of the cross with the Gospel and pronounces the initial exclamation of the Liturgy: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.” Blessed is the Kingdom... The Kingdom of Heaven begins here on earth for those who join eternal life through faith, acceptance of the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, through life according to the commandments of the Gospel.

The exclamation is followed by great or peaceful litany. It is called great because a large number requests contained therein. Peaceful - by initial words first petition: “Let us pray to the Lord in peace.” This means: let us pray in a peaceful state of mind, reconciled with everyone. The petitions of the peaceful litany, pronounced by the archdeacon on behalf of everyone gathered in the church, embrace all the urgent needs of man, primarily spiritual. Although the Church does not forget about the simple, everyday concerns of man.

On this Christmas night, we add our prayers to the petitions of the peaceful litany that are now being heard in the church. The spiritual experience of the Church testifies to the special power of such a common, cathedral prayer Christian. Now the Church offers her prayer for the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Orthodox sister Churches, for our country, its authorities and army, for the Patriarch and for the bishops who serve him, for our Mother See, for those who are suffering, who are sick, about those who found themselves in enemy captivity. Let's not forget about them today.

The Great Litany ends with the exclamation of the priest. After this the choir begins to sing antiphons. There are three antiphons in the Liturgy, these are psalms 101, 111, 109. At the end of the first antiphon, the small litany follows, which is a shortened version of the great or peaceful litany. During the singing of the antiphons, special holiday refrains are added to the verses of the psalms: save us, Son of God, born of the Virgin, singing Ti Hallelujah - Son of God, born of the Virgin, Save us, singing Thee Hallelujah.

The Patriarch washes his hands - a symbolic action that reminds us that the great sacrament of the Eucharist should be approached with a cleansed conscience and a pure heart.

The hymn joins the second antiphon "Only Begotten Son", which reminds us that the main benefit of God to the human race lies in sending down to earth the Son of God, who was incarnate from the Most Holy Theotokos and conquered death by His death on the Cross. The anthem was composed by the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great, a Slav by birth, who lived at the turn of the 5th-6th centuries.

After the second antiphon, a small litany consisting of three petitions is heard again. The moment of the small entrance is approaching, which historically developed as the beginning of the Liturgy, when the Gospel and Sacred vessels, stored elsewhere outside the church, were brought into the temple, and it symbolizes the procession of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel. Until this moment, from the very beginning of the Liturgy, the Primate has always been on a raised platform in the middle of the church, which is now sometimes called the pulpit, but in ancient times was called the pulpit.

During the performance of the third antiphon, which consists of singing the verses of the psalm and troparion to the Nativity of Christ, the clergy, except the Patriarch and the bishops who serve him, retire to the altar. In the altar, the archdeacon takes the Gospel from the throne and goes through the northern side doors to the patriarchal pulpit. The solemn procession stops in the middle of the temple, in front of the icon of the holiday. The Patriarch applies himself to the Gospel. The archdeacon recites verses from the psalter, which are called input because they are pronounced during the small entrance on the days of great holidays. On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, these are the verses: “From the womb before the morning star I gave birth to Thee: the Lord swears and will not repent.” “You are a Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” These verses are among the Old Testament prophecies about the Savior. Looking at the Gospel, the clergy sing: “Come, let us worship and fall before Christ. Save us (us), Son of God, Be born of the Virgin, singing Ti Hallelujah.”

During the singing, the Patriarch overshadows those gathered with the trikiri and dikiri, and then heads to the altar and, stopping at the pulpit, again blesses the worshipers.

Three trikiriya and two dikiriya candles have their own symbolism. This is a confession of the dogma of the Holy Trinity and the God-manhood of Jesus Christ, two natures or hypostases - Divine and human - in the single person of the Savior. When we make the sign of the cross, we express the same truth. Three fingers together are a symbol of the Holy Trinity, two fingers pressed to the palm are a symbol of Jesus Christ. Having venerated the icons on the Holy Gates, His Holiness enters the altar and censes the throne on which the Bloodless Sacrifice will be offered. Then the Patriarch censes the entire altar.

- part of the temple, fenced off from the rest of the space by the iconostasis. The word itself translated from Latin means “high altar.” In the altar there is a throne, which is the place of the special presence of God.

Accompanied by the singing of “Ispolla these despotas,” which in translation means “for many years, lord,” the Patriarch burns incense on the iconostasis and the worshipers. The performance of chants in Greek, which usually occurs during bishop's services, is a tribute to historical tradition. Until the middle of the 15th century, the Russian Church was a metropolitanate of the Greek Church and many of its primates were Greeks by origin.

The Patriarch at the altar begins reading the so-called “ secret prayers"or anaphora. The word anaphora means exaltation. These prayers are called that because during their reading the Holy Gifts are offered, and they are called “secret” because at this time the sacrament of transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Most Pure Body and Precious Blood of the Savior is performed. There is an opinion that they are also called so because they are not pronounced out loud, but read in a low voice. We will tell you about their main content.

In this prayer, the Patriarch asks the Heavenly Father, sung by the cherubim and Seraphim, to accept from us, sinful and imperfect people, the trisagion - angel singing, performed at the Throne of God; prays for forgiveness of our sins, and also for our whole life to be devoted to serving God.

The clergy in the altar sing the kontakion of the Nativity of Christ. The time of the Trisagion is coming, but now we will hear another chant, which is performed instead of the Trisagion on certain days church year: on Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, at and. This hymn is “As many as were baptized in Christ, they put on Christ. Hallelujah". It reminds me of ancient custom accept the sacrament of Baptism, which took place on the dates indicated by us holidays. This chant contains a call addressed to the newly baptized. Its meaning: those who accepted holy sacrament baptists must now put on Christ by faith and good works.

The Patriarch with a dikiri in his right hand and with a cross in his left hand comes out of the altar and, turning to the people, from the pulpit says: “Look from heaven, O God, and see and visit these grapes and establish (them) which Thy right hand has planted.” By the grapes (that is, vineyard) of the Lord we mean the Church founded by the Savior.

The Patriarch overshadows the people with the dikiria and the cross, and then returns to the altar, where he passes to the high place located behind the throne. The high place is intended for the Primate leading the service and its name indicates the “high” heavenly world. Its name comes from the fact that in ancient Church it was really high (in Slavic - mountain), it could rise 2 meters from the floor of the altar, and the clergy sat on it at certain moments of the Liturgy. On a high place there is a throne on which the Patriarch sits while reading the Apostle - a book that contains part of the New Testament - the Acts and Epistles of the Holy Apostles.

The Patriarch overshadows the clergy located in the altar with the trikirium and blesses the reader who will read a fragment from the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians (chapter 4, vv. 4-7). The passage being read tells about the incarnation of the Son of God and, as a consequence of this incarnation, the adoption of humanity by God the Father.

The clergy are the successors of the holy apostles - the closest disciples of the Savior. Therefore, during the reading of the Apostle, they have the right to sit. The reading of the Apostle is preceded by an exclamation prokimna. The reading of the Apostle will be followed by the reading of the Gospel. The Lord Himself, through the Gospel reading, will proclaim the words of eternal life. As a sign of humility before Him, the Patriarch lays aside his omophorion - part of the liturgical vestment, symbolizing the Incarnate Son of God.

The gospel will be proclaimed in the middle of the temple. Today we read an excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, v. 1-12. It talks about the appearance in Palestine of mysterious eastern sages, in Slavic - Magi. Eastern and Western traditions call the Magi kings. Their relics, or rather their honest heads, are in the Cologne Cathedral. From the gifts brought by the Magi to the Infant Jesus, the custom, especially beloved by children, of giving each other gifts at Christmas originates.

At the end of the Gospel reading, the concelebrating bishop overshadows the people with dikiriy and trikiriy. The deacons participating in the service will now pronounce the petition Serious Litany, and then the litany for the catechumens. “Augmented” means double, reinforced. To each petition, the choir, on behalf of all those gathered in the temple, responds three times: “Lord have mercy.”

The Litany of Suguba is followed by Litany about. In the ancient Church, catechumens were adults who learned (proclaimed) the truths Christian faith before receiving holy baptism. They were allowed to attend the Liturgy up to a certain point, as people who had not yet entered into the fullness of Church life. They listened to the Word of God, prayed, but when the most important stage of the service came, they left the church, obeying the deacon’s cry: “Depart, you catechumens.”

“Liturgy of the Catechumens” (this is the name of the second part Divine Liturgy) ends. Its next part is called the Liturgy of the Faithful, because in ancient times only members of the Church who accepted Holy Baptism and remaining faithful to the promises made to God.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion was established by the Savior himself. This event - the establishment of the sacrament - will be remembered at one of the most important moments of the Divine Liturgy. As the Gospel narrates, before the Jewish Passover, on the eve of His suffering, during the Last Supper, the Savior, having washed the feet of the disciples, and thereby showing them an example of deep humility, took bread in his hands, blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples with the words: “ Take, eat: this is My Body, which is given up for you for the remission of sins; do this in remembrance of Me.” Then He took a cup of grape wine and, having given praise to God, gave it to the disciples with the words: “Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins; Do this whenever you drink, in remembrance of Me.”

Having given communion to his disciples, the apostles, the Lord commanded them to perform this sacrament in His remembrance, for the remission of sins and for eternal life. Those who believe in Christ and partake of His Body and Blood become partakers of eternal life. And the Savior himself says in the Gospel: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

The choir sings Cherubic song. The Patriarch at the throne reads the prayer on Cherubimskaya, and then the washing of hands is performed again. With this action, Patriarch Kirill testified to everyone that the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ should be approached in purity of soul and body. Then, with raised hands, he prays in the words of the Cherubic Song: “Even as the Cherubim secretly form and sing the Most Holy Song to the life-giving Trinity, let us now put aside all worldly cares.” “We, mysteriously portraying ourselves as cherubs and singing the most holy hymn to the Life-giving Trinity, will now leave all everyday worries” - this is how the Cherubic hymn sounds in Russian.

At the end of the prayer, the mutual remembrance of the concelebrants follows: Your bishopric, archpriest, priesthood, archdeaconry, protodeaconry, deaconry - may the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

The Patriarch goes to the altar. It is located here, in the northern part of the altar. On the altar (in Greek “protesis”, i.e. “preparation”) the preparation of the Holy Gifts is carried out - bread and wine, which, through the prayers of the Church, by the power and action of the grace of the Holy Spirit during the Eucharist, will become the Body and Blood of Christ. Here, from the prosphora (specially prepared bread brought to the temple, hence the name “prosphora” - in Greek “offering”), His Holiness takes out particles, pronouncing the names of the living and the dead. At the end of the Liturgy, these particles about health and repose will be lowered into the Holy Chalice with the prayer: “Wash away, Lord, the sins of those who were remembered here (i.e. here) with Your Honest Blood and the prayers of your saints.”

We also see Eucharistic vessels - liturgical vessels that are used during the celebration of the Eucharist. This - chalice- a cup in which there is now wine intended for the sacrament, paten, on which the Eucharistic bread is placed - the lamb, and also - star. It consists of two metal plates fastened crosswise to each other and symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem, which heralded the birth of the Savior of the World. About this in this moment says the Patriarch: “And a star came, one hundred above, even the Child,” i.e. a star came and stopped over the place where the Infant Christ was born. Pokrovtsy, with which the chalice and paten are covered, are reminiscent of the shrouds of the Infant God and at the same time the burial shrouds of the Savior, with which His body was entwined as it was laid in the tomb.

The singing of the Cherubim is interrupted by the performance of Great Entrance. Through the doors of the altar, the Holy Gifts are transferred from the altar to the altar. This moment of worship recalls and symbolically depicts the procession of the Savior to voluntary suffering for the redemption of the human race. Therefore, during the Great Entrance, we see in the hands of the clergy: a cross, a spear and a spoon (this is the Slavic name for the spoon with which believers receive communion) - liturgical objects reminiscent of the instruments of the Passion of Christ.

The Patriarch meets the Holy Gifts, standing in, and commemorates the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches. He commemorates the Patriarch and the bishops who served him, as well as all Orthodox bishops, priests and deacons, monastics and laity. The prayerful commemoration of Church members at the Great Entrance means that the Holy Gifts will be sacrificed to God for the health and salvation of all those commemorated. One of the concelebrating bishops, senior in rank, commemorates the Patriarch, all those praying in the church and all Orthodox Christians.

The choir concludes with the singing of the Cherubic song: “As if we will raise up the King of all, the angels invisibly dorinoshima chinmi. Hallelujah. “Let us put aside the cares of this world in order to meet the king of all creation, who is invisibly accompanied in triumph by angelic powers.”

The Holy Gifts are placed on the throne and covered with air - a special cover symbolizing the Shroud, which was wrapped around the Body of the Savior during burial. One of the concelebrating bishops overshadows the people with trikiriy and dikiriy.

There are petitions from the so-called Litany of Petition. In its second part, which contains a petition for the most important spiritual benefits desired by every Christian, the choir on behalf of all those gathered in the church cries out: “Give, Lord.” During the litany, the Patriarch prays that the Lord will vouchsafe him to offer the Holy Gifts as a spiritual Sacrifice and send down upon them, as well as on all believers, the grace of the Holy Spirit. The petitionary litany ends with the exclamation: “By the bounty of Thy Only Begotten Son, with Him art thou blessed, with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.”

Further, believers prepare for the offering of the Holy Gifts by witnessing peace and love and confessing Orthodox faith. “Peace to all,” we have already heard this cry and talked about the need for a Christian to have peace of mind. But spiritual peace must be expressed in mutual love to each other. And the deacon calls the participants of the Eucharist to this: “Let us love one another and confess with one mind” - Let us love each other and confess with one mind, openly express our faith in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity of One Essence and Indivisibility.

After this, it is sung, through which those gathered in the temple confess their faith in the truths of Christian teaching. The singing of the Creed is preceded by the voice of the deacon: “Doors, doors, let us sing of wisdom!”

At this time, the Patriarch removes the air covering the Holy Gifts as a sign of the Resurrection of Christ.

The exclamation “Doors, doors...” in ancient times was addressed to the gatekeepers - a special category of clergy who made sure that at the most important moment of the Eucharist the uninitiated did not enter the church: catechumens who had not yet received Holy Baptism, or penitents who were deprived of the right to participate in this part of the Liturgy, or non-believers.

While singing the Creed, the Patriarch also pronounces it before the throne, and the concelebrants shake the air over the Holy Gifts as a sign of the descent of the Holy Spirit on them.

The deacon’s exclamation: “Let us become kind, let us become fearful, let us sing, bring holy offerings to the world” – once again calls the participants of the service to prayerful concentration. The Holy Offering, the Bloodless Sacrifice, now, in a few minutes, will be offered not only for us, but also from us, with our prayerful participation. The fact that all of us standing in the church are called to participate in the celebration of the sacrament is evidenced by the liturgical dialogue.

The choir, on behalf of all those praying, concludes the exclamation with the words: “Mercy of peace, sacrifice of praise.” And this means that we are ready to offer the Holy Sacrifice, which is the highest mercy and gift of God to people, and represents, first of all, the grateful glorification of the Creator. The next three exclamations, to which the choir also responds on our behalf, are pronounced by the Patriarch outside the altar, addressing the people and overshadowing the people with lamps (dikirium with two candles and trikirium with three).

– The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love (love) of God and the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

- And with your spirit.

- Woe we have in our hearts. (Let us renounce everything earthly and lift our minds and hearts to the higher, heavenly world).

- Imams to the Lord.

This response of those praying to the Primate marks the completion of preparation for the celebration of the sacrament, and the exclamation “We thank the Lord” marks the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer or anaphora. The celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist begins with thanksgiving, just as the Savior at the Last Supper offered thanks to God the Father.

Meanwhile, the Patriarch reads a prayer in which, on behalf of all believers, he glorifies the greatness of God and His goodness to the human race, thanks God for the creation of the world, for the fact that he accepts this service of praise and thanksgiving from people, although he is served by Archangels and Angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, “singing a victorious song, crying out, calling out and speaking.” Last words prayers are said aloud, in the form of an exclamation, and the choir sings this victorious angelic song glorifying the Holy Trinity: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, fill heaven and earth with Your glory! Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

This song is sung very solemnly. During the singing, the Patriarch reads the following part of the anaphora: “With these blessed Powers, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, we cry out and say: Holy art Thou and Most Holy, Thou, and Thy Only Begotten Son, and Thy Holy Spirit. Holy and holy and magnificent is Your glory; Whosoever Thou hast loved Thy world, even as Thou hast given Thy Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have Eternal Life.”

The Patriarch continues the reading of the anaphora, confessing the holiness of God and at the same time glorifying His infinite love for humanity, which was most manifested in sending the Only Begotten Son of God into the world for our salvation.

Before the establishing words of the sacrament of the Eucharist are heard, the following words of the anaphora prayer are read: “He who came and fulfilled all his care for us, in the night, having given himself up, and moreover, having given himself up for his worldly life, take bread into Thy holiness and Most pure and immaculate hands, thanking and blessing, sanctifying, breaking, given to His saints by His disciple and apostle, the rivers:

The Patriarch takes off his miter and puts it on himself omophorion- clothing of imitation of Christ, in order to indicate the importance of the sacred rite being performed.

- Take, eat: this is My Body, which was broken for you for the remission of sins.

The choir sings “Amen”, and the Patriarch reads: “Likewise the Cup at supper, saying:

- Drink of it, all of you: this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

Further, the Patriarch continues: “I remember this saving commandment and everything that was about us: the Cross, the Sepulcher, the three-day Resurrection, the ascension to Heaven, sitting at the right hand (right), the Second and Glorious Coming again,” and proclaims: “Yours from Yours to You offering for everyone and for everything,” that is, remembering Your saving commandment and everything that You have done for us: the Cross, and the Sepulcher, and the three-day Resurrection, and the ascension to Heaven, and sitting at the right hand of the Father, and the Second and Glorious Coming again - remembering all this, we bring Yours from Yours to You for everyone and for everything, We sing to you, we bless you, we thank you. Lord, and we pray to You, our God" At this time, the Patriarch takes the Paten and the Chalice with his hands folded crosswise and raises them above the throne. This is ascension - anaphora. The choir sings: “We sing to You, we bless You, we thank You, Lord, and we pray to You, our God.” The Sami are approaching an important and mysterious moment of worship, the pinnacle of the liturgy.

The offering of the Holy Gifts is followed by their transubstantiation. The Patriarch asks for the sending of the Holy Spirit to sanctify the Gifts and transform them into the Body and Blood of Christ. Then, having confessed his unworthiness, he blesses the Holy Bread and the Holy Cup. By the power and action of the Holy Spirit, the greatest sacrament is accomplished - bread and wine become the Body and Blood of the Savior.

Anaphora is addressed to the first person of the Holy Trinity - to God the Father, but this prayer (in Greek epiclesis, which means “invocation”) is addressed to the Holy Spirit. This is a prayer of invoking the Holy Spirit for the Holy Gifts. After it it is said: “And create this Bread, the Honest Body of Thy Christ.” The Archdeacon answers: “Amen,” and says: “Bless, Most Holy Master, the Holy Chalice.” The Patriarch says: “And in this Chalice, the Honest Blood of Thy Christ.” The Archdeacon says: “Amen. Bless, Holy Master, both” (i.e., both). And the Patriarch blesses sign of the cross and the Paten and the Chalice with the words: “Translating by Thy Holy Spirit.” The archdeacon answers: “Amen, amen, amen.” (i.e. truly so, so be it).

Those serving and all those praying worship the Holy Gifts as if they were the Lord Himself. After the prayer of the Patriarch for the communicants and for all who have fallen in the faith, and for those living on earth, there follows glorification Mother of God. Listing the ranks of the holy saints of God (forefathers, fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, evangelists, martyrs, confessors and fasters) His Holiness Patriarch especially (fairly) highlights the Most Holy Theotokos - Intercessor before God for the human race: “Fairly about the Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Our Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.”

Then the choir sings a hymn in honor of the Mother of God, not only the holiest of men, but, in the words of the Church Hymn, “the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim.” Just this hymn, the words from which I just quoted, is usually performed at this moment of the Divine Liturgy, but today is a special day, today is a great holiday, therefore, instead of the chant “”, “Zadostoynik” is sung - a song from among the holiday hymns, in this case - Irmos of the ninth song of the Christmas canon.

We have already heard it today during Matins. “I see a strange and glorious sacrament, (I see a wonderful and extraordinary sacrament), the sky is a den, the throne of the Cherubim, the Virgin (the den has become the sky, the throne of the Cherubim is the Virgin), a manger-container, in them reclining is the incontainable Christ God, and we magnify Him in praise (the manger has become the receptacle of the Incontainable God, Whom we magnify while singing).”

“Love for us, as silence, comfortable with fear, is more convenient, but for the love of the Virgin, it is inconvenient to eat songs weaving at length; but also give Mati strength, as long as there is will.” (It would be easier for us to be content with silence in fear, as if it were a safe matter. It is difficult, Virgo, to compose harmoniously composed songs of love for You, but You, Mother, Grant us strength Yourself, if that is Your will).

There comes a moment in the anaphora prayer when the Patriarch remembers the saints glorified by God, prays for the living and departed members of the Church: “We again offer to You this verbal service about the universe, about the Holy, Catholic and Holy Church, about those who abide in purity and honest living; about our God-protected country." And here we need to remember all the most important things, prayerfully turning to the Lord. The petition ends with a prayer for the authorities: “Give them, Lord, peaceful rule, and in their silence we too may live a quiet and silent life in all piety and purity.”

The Patriarch continues: “Remember, Lord, this city in which we live, and every city and country, and those who live in them by faith. Remember, Lord, those sailing, traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and their salvation. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do good in Your holy churches and remember the poor, and send Your mercies upon all of us.”

The litany of petition, which sounds under the arches of the temple, marks the beginning of the preparation of worshipers for Communion. This litany begins with the words: “Having remembered all the saints, let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.” Having remembered all the saints, let us pray to the Lord again and again.

During the litany of petition, the Saint prays that the Lord will grant those praying worthily to partake of the Holy Mysteries for the remission of sins and eternal life. The litany ends with the exclamation: “And grant (honour) us, O Master, with boldness (with filial courage) to dare without condemnation to acknowledge and speak to You, the Heavenly God and Father.”

All those gathered in the temple sing the Lord's Prayer "". The Savior was the first to call God Father, as the Son of God. The fact that we dare to repeat these words and call God Father became possible thanks to the incarnation of the Son of God.

One of the requests of the Lord’s Prayer – “give us this day our daily bread” – refers not only to earthly bread, bodily food and in general to earthly goods, which we all undoubtedly need, but, above all, to the Bread of the Holy Eucharist , to the Body and Blood of Christ - true food and true life, spiritually nourishing a person and leading him into eternal life.

The moment of Communion is approaching. The cry of “Holy to holies!” reminds us that every Christian is called to holiness; it is not for nothing that the holy Apostle Paul in his Epistles calls the first followers of the Savior saints. In addition, this exclamation serves as a reminder that the Holy Place - the Body and Blood of Christ - is given to those who have cleansed their souls by repentance in the sacrament of confession.

“There is One Holy One, One Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen". The Lord alone is holy, He alone is the source of holiness and can make every person who is directed toward Him with all his heart and soul a partaker of His holiness.

At this moment of the service, when the clergy receive communion in the altar behind the closed Holy Gates, the altar symbolizes the Upper Room of Zion, in which the Lord established the sacrament of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.

The choir sings sacramental verse(performed during communion) and other holiday chants. Then the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill is announced to the archpastors, shepherds, monastics and all the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church.

It begins in the temple lay communion. The Holy Gates are opening.

“Proceed with the fear of God and faith!” The protodeacon's exclamation is addressed to those awaiting Communion. Approach the Holy Chalice, realizing your unworthiness and believing that the true Body and true Blood of Christ abide in it.

Communion of the laity ends. By singing “We have seen the true light, we have received in the spirit the heavenly spirit...” believers thank the Lord for Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. The last appearance of the Holy Gifts, which takes place with the exclamation “always now and ever and unto ages of ages,” reminds us of the Ascension of the Lord. There follows a short litany of thanksgiving and a prayer behind the pulpit, which the priest says while standing in front of the steps leading to the pulpit, opposite the Holy Gate. The Patriarch, standing in the Holy Gates, pronounces dismissal. The festive service in the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior ends with the First Hierarchical word of Patriarch Kirill, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, the ruling bishop of Moscow.

Christmas is one of the greatest and most significant holidays for Christians around the world, which has many traditions.

They prepare for it in advance and very thoroughly. They decorate houses and prepare a rich table, while observing traditions. Which are passed on from generation to generation.

When is Christmas celebrated

Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on the night of January 6-7. Catholics celebrate according to the old style - December 25th.

The ceremonial service begins exactly at midnight.

Before the revolution, Christmas holidays were accompanied by many traditions and folk rituals. Unfortunately, after this holiday was banned, many traditions were irretrievably lost.

Christmas - quiet, bright family celebration. After all, the event of the birth of Christ itself happened quietly and inconspicuously. Joseph and Mary, unable to find room in an inn, were forced to stay in a cave where they kept cattle. It was in it that the Savior was born.

The angels were the first to tell about this joyful event to simple shepherds. A bright star lit up in the sky, which showed the way to the worshipers who brought gifts to the Savior.

Nativity scenes are built in temples. This is a stationary structure made of cardboard and fir branches, depicting the cave in which Jesus Christ was born. Inside the makeshift cave they place figurines of the Holy Family, angels, sheep, wise men, etc., in other words, all participants in those events.

The period from Christmas to Epiphany is called Christmastide. These days it is customary to do good deeds and visit loved ones with congratulations.

Traditions of Christmas celebration

We owe many wonderful traditions to Christmas. The most popular symbol of the holiday is a Christmas tree decorated with toys. At first these were spruce branches woven into a wreath, which was decorated with flowers, fruits and sweets. By the way, not everyone knows that the star that is installed on top is the same Star of Bethlehem, which showed the way to the Magi, and not a symbol Communist Party.

On the evening of the sixth, Christmas Eve begins. The name comes from the dish that was traditionally eaten on this day - sochiva. All family members sat down at the table after the appearance of the first star; before that, eating food was prohibited. The table was set with lenten dishes, and at the top was always sochivo - boiled wheat with honey.

One of the main and brightest traditions of Christmas is caroling. Previously, this tradition was pagan: the carol was a symbol of sun worship. Gradually, almost all pagan symbols were supplanted under the influence of Christianity.

Costumed people gather in groups and go from house to house in the evening before Christmas, proclaiming the good news that the Savior was born and wishing the owners health and prosperity. In gratitude for the good news, they throw sweets, a loaf, sausage or some money into the bag.

On the evening of January 6th, godchildren bring kutya to their godparents and sing songs about the Nativity of Christ. Their godparents give them gifts for this.

Thus, Christmas is traditionally celebrated in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

Another tradition that exists in all countries is to give gifts to family, friends and those who need attention and care. This tradition originates from the gifts that the Magi presented to Christ.

Christmas table - traditional dishes

Christmas is preceded by a six-week fast. That's why the owners cooked a lot for Christmas delicious dishes. The evening of the sixth of January is called Christmas Eve. On this day it is not customary to eat food until the first star, and even those Christians who did not fast try to adhere to this rule.

After a common prayer, all family members sat down at the table and ate the so-called “hungry kutya” - millet porridge, which was cooked in water and flavored with honey and dried fruits.

Main courses were served only after the service. According to tradition, there should be 13 different dishes on the table. These include baked pigs, meat in pots, snacks, salads, pies, etc. In addition, traditional “rich kutia” is served, which is prepared with honey, nuts, cream and dried fruits.

The traditional drink on the Christmas table is a brew made from berries and dried fruits.

In the old days, there was a tradition of opening the doors wide and inviting any passerby to the table, even if it was a beggar. It was believed that Christ himself could come in the form of any person.

In which countries of the world and how is Christmas celebrated?

France

The French were the first to replace apples on the Christmas tree with glass balls. In this country, boots or boots are placed near the Christmas tree, where gifts for children are placed.

By the way, for the French, a Christmas tree is not a mandatory attribute of the holiday; many prefer to decorate their homes with flowers.

At the beginning of December, Christmas markets open all over the country, where you can buy everything you need to celebrate Christmas.

Traditional dishes on the Christmas table in France are roast goose and a log-shaped cake, which is served at the end of the meal.

Finland

In this country, in addition to the usual Christmas tree, they also put a tree on the street. Bird feeders are hung on it and seeds and crumbs are poured under the tree.

Sweden

Christmas in Sweden, like in any Catholic country, is celebrated from December 24 to 25. Here it is customary to celebrate only with your family. Friends, even the closest ones, are not invited to the holiday.

The traditional dish for Swedes at Christmas is pork ham, but turkey is more often prepared. Herring, potatoes and salmon must be present on the table.

Christmas trees are not decorated with tinsel; here it is considered bad manners. Plain light bulbs and very few toys are used as decoration.

Germany

Germans begin to prepare for Christmas at the end of November. Every family has a tradition of weaving a wreath with four candles. Every Sunday of the next month, one candle is lit on the wreath. By Christmas, all four candles should be burning on it.

Before Christmas they prepare baked goods: stollen and gingerbread. Stollen - oblong sweet bread with nuts, spices and raisins, which symbolizes the swaddled Christ.

Serbia

Christmas in this country is celebrated according to the new style - January 7th. They celebrate it for more than a month with their family. According to tradition, the father of the family must cut down an oak branch for the hearth.

England

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the British have celebrated Christmas as a purely family holiday. Only a few traditions have survived to this day. One of them: exchanging gifts that are placed in a Christmas stocking.

Traditional dishes on the Christmas table are plum pudding and stuffed turkey. There is a tradition of hiding small silver coins"for luck".

Italy

Nativity scenes are installed in churches and homes. In addition, residents of this country decorate the Christmas tree and decorate their homes with flowers.

On Christmas Eve, fish or vegetable dishes. A rich table is set for Christmas. Mandatory dishes are dumplings in broth, boiled meat, lentils, chocolate and cakes with dried fruits, sprinkled powdered sugar.

Greece

Christmas is celebrated in this country on December 25th. In Greece this is a national holiday. In the morning, matins and liturgy are served in churches. After the service everyone returns home and sits down at the table.

They bake traditional “Christ’s bread”, which is decorated with a cross and nuts on top. In addition to the main treat, the table must have dried fruits, honey, Christmas cookies, dried fruits and pomegranates.

Spain

Two weeks before Christmas, the holiday is celebrated with colleagues and friends, who are presented with so-called “Christmas baskets”. They contain food for the holiday, from champagne to cheeses, sweets or ham.

Entrance doors decorated with Christmas wreaths.

In any country, Christmas is a time when there is an opportunity to give a little warmth and care to the weak, orphans, lonely old people and those in prison.

After all, Christmas is a reminder to us all that love and goodness live in the soul of every person.

The best and wonderful religious holiday, whose rituals and traditions take us into the deep past - this is the Nativity of Christ. Many of our fellow tribesmen, who happened to be born and live in the times of atheism, probably do not know or do not have a very clear idea about when and how Christmas is celebrated. But it is known for certain from history that before the revolution in Russia it was the most revered holiday of the entire people. It began to be celebrated according to the old style on December 25, and when switching to the new calendar, the feast in honor of the great holiday was moved to the night of January 7. On this day in Russia and throughout Europe, where he lives a large number of Solemn services are held in Orthodox churches and all believers rejoice at the birth of our Savior - the Son of God. There is a very interesting historical fact, that the date of Christ’s death is known for certain from the Holy Gospel, and church ministers spread the belief among parishioners that Christ lived among worldly people for the full number of earthly years. And from this fact it followed that the son of God was conceived on the day when he was crucified, and this precisely fell on the day of the Jewish Passover, and it was celebrated on the 25th of March. Simple mathematical calculations allow us to accurately calculate the date of the Birth of Christ. If we add 9 months to the date of Easter, we get December 25 - exactly the date when all believers celebrate Christmas.

The people in Russia always celebrated the Birth of the Savior joyfully. On the eve of this holiday, it was customary to decorate the Christmas tree. By the way, the tradition of decorating a forest “beauty” came to us from the West since the reign of Peter I. Such a great day was preceded by fasting in Rus' and in European countries such as England, France and Germany. It lasts forty days. It began as usual on November 15 (and according to the new style) and ended on December 24 (January 7 according to the new style). During the entire forty days of fasting, believers were forbidden to eat meat products, milk and eggs. They had to make do with modest plant foods and constantly turn to God during these days, praying for salvation.

The evening preceding Christmas is usually called Christmas Eve. On such a holy day, when celebrated in Germany, France, England and other European countries, as well as throughout Russia, it is customary, through words and deeds, to create a certain image of wealth, peace and tranquility in every home. On Christmas Eve, before the first star appeared in the sky, you couldn’t eat anything and weren’t even supposed to sit down at the table. But every housewife, from early morning on the eve of the Holy Evening, began to prepare culinary delights. According to tradition, it was customary to prepare them in the amount of 12 meatless dishes. In the evening before sunset, all family members gathered for evening prayer, and after that the head of the family took a lighted candle, inserted it into the center of a loaf of bread and went out into the yard, where he grabbed an armful of hay from the barn. Afterwards, this hay was used to cover the floor and benches in the house and put some on the table, which was then covered with a festive tablecloth. Such interesting actions were performed as a reminder of the place of birth of the Son of God (according to believers, the son of God was born in a stable). And under the icon, located in each hut in the red corner, they placed a sheaf of rye or wheat, which was sure to bring an excellent harvest in the coming year.

Christmas in France, when it is celebrated and how it is celebrated in this country.

Just like around the world, Christmas in France is usually celebrated on the 25th day of December. But the French prepare for this holiday long before this date and begin to dress the streets of their cities and houses in festive attire on St. Nicholas Day, which is celebrated on December 6th. All residents of France try to make large stocks of gifts for everyone who is dear and close to them.
But, interestingly, Christmas trees in France used to be decorated with apples. But one bad year, the apple orchards did not produce these fruits and the apple decorations were replaced with traditional glass toys.
Like all children in the world, little Frenchies love sweets. And no matter how they are deprived of sweet gifts at Christmas, they bring their shoes under the tree, in which at night the fairy-tale character will put gifts for them. And at night, entering the houses of French residents through chimneys, a kind angel or elf lays out delicious sweet surprises in boots. After night comes morning, and the kids find them in their shoes and boots.

Christmas celebrations in France and around the globe traditionally take place in churches where festive masses are celebrated. French families attend church in in full force, and after the festive service they hurry home, where a luxurious festive table and many interesting holiday treats and gifts await them.

Dinner in France to celebrate Christmas.

On festive table The French present magnificent and delicious culinary delights. Always in the center of the feast on the table are pates, pies, dishes of fried and baked birds, all kinds of salads and the main festive element - a log-shaped cake.

When and how to celebrate Christmas in Germany.

On the Holy Night, which comes on December 24, Germany and its inhabitants begin festive events. Families sit down at large tables covered with treats and all kinds of culinary delicacies and wait for Santa to cross the threshold of their homes and give them gifts. Christmas is celebrated in Germany for three days as usual. All these days pass in a calm family environment or with best friends. The streets of festive cities in Germany are traditionally filled with all the colors of red and green, because these are the colors that are considered Christmas.
The Germans celebrate the feast at laid tables, which are laden with a variety of apple dishes. In addition to apples, they also prefer to eat nuts and raisins. And as a accepted gift residents of Germany present in flower pot common meadow clover and on the tables in the central part they place figures of chimney sweeps and piglets or bake them in the form of multi-colored gingerbread cookies.

How is it customary to celebrate this holiday and when is Christmas celebrated in England.

The whole world and England, including believe in the Spirit of Christmas, which, like everyone else, comes to them on Christmas Eve on the night of December 24-25. The British don't spend on gifts big money, and according to tradition, they present their friends and colleagues with figurines in the form of angels. But what they definitely don’t skimp on is gift wrapping. She must be beautiful and very sophisticated. And enterprising Englishmen present necessary and practical things as gifts for the family.
On Christmas Eve, children write letters and ask Father Christmas to bring them the gift they dreamed about all 364 days of the year. And in order for this letter to really reach the addressee, it must certainly be burned in the fireplace. And already at dawn, under the tree, many find what they asked for and dreamed about.

But when Christmas comes, the British feast on turkey with gooseberry sauce and rum pudding. It is lit in advance before serving and, amid loud and joyful screams and applause of the celebrating people, it is placed in the center of a rich feast.

We are all different, but in Russia and in Europe people try to celebrate such a holiday in good mood in the circle of your loved ones and at Christmas tables set with masterpieces of culinary art. And by the way, we, the Europeans, believe that if the night before Christmas is rich in stars, then the harvest in the coming year will certainly be bountiful. It is also believed that if you invite a stranger to the table and treat them properly on Christmas evening, then luck will not bypass you and will send you goodness and wealth. And many firmly believe that the stranger who crosses the threshold of their home will certainly be a man, because if a representative of the fairer sex crosses the threshold on Christmas Eve, then luck and success may turn away.

There are few holidays in the world that are so valued and honored, but the Birth of Christ in Russia, England, Germany, France, as well as in other European countries is traditionally celebrated cheerfully. And everyone believes that with the first bright star that appears in the night sky, a heavenly angel will descend and announce to us that the Son of God has been born, and Great Christmas has come!!

Carefully preserved nature, numerous lakes, waterfalls and gently sloping mountains covered with forests are beautiful at any time of the year, but these places acquire a special charm around Christmas, turning its celebration into a fairy tale, a real Christmas Fairy Tale.

For Christmas, the Municipality, local theater actors and simply amateur enthusiasts organize a stunning festival in the town called “Dickens Christmas”, which runs from November 25 to December 24. During this period, every weekend, mummers - heroes of the novels of Charles Dickens - walk through the streets of downtown. They act out scenes from his works, involving spectators and passers-by in the action, present children with sweets, and sing Christmas carols. Musicians in the national Scottish clothing playing bagpipes. Hawkers sell roasted chestnuts and hot chocolate. A white cab with the cutest horse in harness and a smiling coachman gives everyone rides along the embankment.

During my first year here, this costume show was a pleasant surprise for me. I was sitting in hair salon and was preening for the holiday when two ladies “in drag” suddenly looked in and chirped in the manner of the 19th century: “Oh, how lovely it is here! Oh, what radiant eyes you have, my dear! Amazing! Charming! " After talking with visitors and salon masters, the ladies presented everyone with Christmas candy and flew away.

And when my husband and I were shopping one evening, Uncle Scrooge (on the far right in photo 2) came up to us on the street and, grumbling that Scrooge was not such a miser as people think of him, handed us two coupons for free buns at a local pastry shop, where we, naturally, immediately went, and not only bought free (a small thing, but nice!) hot buns, but also bought some pastries for the holiday table.

And what a joy it is for the kids! They especially like Father Christmas: yes, it’s not the fat Santa Claus in a short fur coat who walks the streets here, but Father Christmas, a character very reminiscent of our Father Frost. The kids whisper in his ear their secret desires for gifts.

Everywhere - in shops, restaurants - traditional Christmas melodies and songs are heard, creating a special pre-holiday mood. There are exhibitions and sales of Christmas food and souvenirs. Ancient estate museums are decorated according to all the rules of the corresponding era - visit and admire. The Cathedrals host concerts of Christmas carols, organ and piano music. Children participate in a competition of products made from ginger dough. They build all sorts of gingerbread houses, palaces, scenes and even sculptures - their imagination is simply amazing!

Here, in small towns, people can afford the luxury of going to a nursery, choosing and cutting down a Christmas tree themselves. The Christmas trees are grown in the most of different stripes: with small or large needles, green, blue, very tiny and simply gigantic. Whole families come to the plot: they walk, enjoy the sunny day, crisp snow, the smell of pine needles and the anticipation of the holiday. The tree you like can be cut down for you by a nursery employee, then the spruce will be carefully packed like a long skinny herring in a net and loaded into a car.

At home, your Christmas tree will straighten its legs, begin to warm up, and the unique aroma of resin and pine needles will spread everywhere. And if you also light a fire in the fireplace, light candles and pour eggnog into a glass, splashing in a little rum or cognac (you get something like egg liqueur, a traditional American New Year's drink) - mmm...

In the evening, the windows of the houses are lit. New Year's installations and garlands light up everywhere. We like to just drive around the neighborhood in a car and admire these decorated houses, glowing figures and scenes that everyone tries to build in their yard to the best of their ability. Idyllic pictures of family meals and peaceful evening leisure flash through the uncurtained windows. And when you drive like this in the twilight of the cabin, you look at all this splendor, complete peace descends on your heart, a feeling of some extraordinary correctness of the order of existence appears - it seems that this is how it is now all over the Earth, that there are no wars, no strife, no problem.

But Americans never, and especially on holidays, forget about those who are not so lucky in life (it is no coincidence that Dickensian scenes were chosen for the city celebration - a reminder: don’t be a callous egoist!). During the holidays, Americans actively donate food to the Food Bank, prepare hot meals in shelters, deliver bags of food and toys to low-income families, hold campaigns to collect warm clothes for children, and collect packages for those in need around the world. And there are those who send their friends or neighbors, whose family is currently experiencing financial difficulties, a check for a feasible amount.

Good traditions, isn't it? This inspires deep respect in me.